Reports of Alligators at Tirraroe

Beth and Sophie on the minicat

Mr Alligator skimming over the bay at Tirraroe

The inaugural launch of Mr Alligator

We missed last weekend as the weather reports were so bad as to put even us off. So we were really excited about getting back to Bee-Jay.

Beth’s friend Sophie was joining us for the weekend.

We arrived around 7pm in Lisbellaw to see that our local chippy had closed. Disaster! So we delivered everybody to Crawford’s Marina and I headed to Lisnaskea to chippy and supermarket. Soon we were underway. We warned Sophie that we were taking her to somewhere where there was nothing. Of course this is untrue. We were taking her to a beautiful spot where we make our own entertainment.

We drove from the flybridge and it was a cool but dry evening.

Tirraroe is only about an hour from Carrybridge. When we got there, there were a couple of other boats but plenty of space to moor. Of course Connie was there – I have mentioned Connie before. She is a dog that lives on a local farm and spends the time on the jetty welcoming boats and the people on them.

The next morning, everyone was up early and the girls couldn’t wait to get in the water. Mr Alligator – the new water toy was first to get pumped out and set in the water for it’s inaugural launch. The girls had a great time being towed around the bay by Captain Bob in the dinghy. It took them a few runs to get their balance and then they were getting towed out and jumping off. After the initial shock of the water, they seemed to get quite used to it. When the girls, Captain Bob and Mr Alligator needed a rest, everyone came in and had a bite of lunch. After lunch, we all worked at putting together the minicat. The girls took this out with Captain Bob on hand in the dinghy if they needed assistance. On returning, Captain Bob went for a sail.

By now the jetty was getting busier with some boats coming and going, a motor home arriving for the night and canoeists arrived and set up camp in a tent on the nice green area.

The girls decided to get geared up again and have fun jumping into the water. They had a lot of fun.

There was a bit of excitement later in the day when a couple of hire boats arrived. For both of them, this was the first time they moored on their own and they needed a little helping hand. By the end of the week they will be experts – perhaps!

Dinner was a babrbecue on the jetty – very tasty.

The evening ended with a game of cards.

There was no doubt that everyone would sleep well after an active day.

Everyone was up early on Sunday morning and after breakfast, the girls were ready for some more trips on Mr Alligator and time in the water. Some thought them mad and others you could tell were quite envious. Captain Bob also got a good sail before we had to start the task of putting all of the “toys” away.

By early afternoon we had all packed up and a drizzle of rain had started. We headed off towards Knockninney to pump out but it was very busy – possibly due to the advertising on the lough of their bar and restaurant. So on we went to Carrybridge where we pumped out and got moored up.

A good weekend had by all.

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The final leg – 26-Jul-09

We got up and got ready for the final leg of our journey back to Carrybridge.

After breakfast, we cast off and got ready for the first challenge of the day – the bridge at Ballyconnell. This is a tight bridge but Captain Bob navigated it with no problem. We were then straight into the lock.

None of us wanted the last lock to come. But all too soon we were there and through without any issues.

Just after the lock I heard Captain Bob using reverse and the bow thruster. There was a boat sitting across the river so he needed to hold Bee-Jay until our path was clear.

We headed on up the Woodford River and just as we came towards Crom, the rain came up so it was back to yo-yo time – flybridge and then a dive to drive below when the rain came on.

I took over the helml up above when the rain stopped. The wind had picked up. Captain Bob guided us through Lady Craigavon Bridge. I took over. There was a strong wind blowing behind us. The depth sounder definitely goes off more often on the Erne than anything we’ve experienced over the last few weeks.

We navigated up past the Share Centre and Nan and headed to Knockninney where we wanted to pump out leaving Bee-Jay ready for our next weekend.

As we moored, the rain poured down again. Holly got lunch and a stretch of the legs while we pumped out. Off we set again with lunch en route.

Carrybridge was soon in sight. Moored up, we were welcomed back by our boating nighbours and we started the job of getting packed up.

This has been a fantastic 3 weeks cruising and we can’t wait to be back on Bee-Jay.

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